Schools in Three States Establish or Expand Student Access to Courses from The Virtual High School

Positive response to the courses offered by The Virtual High School(VHS Inc.),a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization helping schools provide their students with a variety of online and blended learning programs, has spurred institutions in Rhode Island and Vermont to give their students greater access to the wide array of VHS core and elective courses. Additionally, a New Jersey high school is the newest member of the VHS collaborative, joining more than 700 schools from across the nation and around the world.

The Lincoln Public School Department in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is expanding the number of VHS semester course enrollments available to its students to 120. Middlebury Union High School in Middlebury, Vermont, increased its number of VHS course enrollments to 75. Manchester Regional High School in Haledon, New Jersey, has chosen this year to expand its curriculum offerings with VHS courses through a pilot program. Students at participating schools may select from any VHS course, if the course has openings and students meet course prerequisites. Schools distribute their course enrollments to their students as they see fit, with some schools offering VHS online course enrollments to their entire student body, and others limiting enrollments to upper class students or students who have a particular course need.

The Virtual High School has a distinguished 22-year history of providing middle and high schools from 40 states and 33 countries with access to high-quality online and blended learning experiences. VHS also provides educators at local schools with graduate-level professional development and services.

Schools increase their course offerings by using the VHS catalog which consists of more than 200 unique online courses, including 23 AP® offerings, innovative STEM programs, and a wide variety of unique electives. A 2017 survey of VHS participants found a 94 percent retention rate of VHS member schools in the 2016-17 school year, indicating strong educator and student satisfaction with the quality of instruction being delivered.

“Our partnership with VHS allows our students to explore course options that otherwise would not be available,” said Dr. Caroline Frey, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Professional Development at Lincoln Public School Department. “And the high quality of the instruction means we can be sure of academic rigor in each course offering.”

“VHS has more than 700 school partners around the world,” said Carol Ribeiro, President & CEO of VHS. “Schools and districts work with us to help students develop time management skills, explore academic options that might not be available locally, and consider possible college majors and career options. VHS courses are a great way for schools to supplement their offerings and provide students with a supportive, instructor-led, global classroom experience that prepares them for college, careers, and beyond.”